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iOS 4.3 Now Available for Download

Apple has officially released iOS 4.3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. The release comes just two days before the iPad 2 goes on sale.

We've covered the various updates and improvements in iOS 4.3, but the quick highlights include:

Faster JavaScript engine

Better AirPlay Support

Personal HotSpot on the iPhone 4

iTunes Home Sharing

On the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, users can install the update by clicking on the "Check for Update" button on the device summary page in iTunes. Apple TV 2 owners can download the update from the "check for updates" menu on the device.

If you want a direct link to the IPSW update file, our friends at MacStories and TUAW have tracked down the download links:

Hands On with iOS 4.3

Mute or Rotation Switch Selector

Apple made a wise decision in iOS 4.3 for iPad by allowing users to choose between using the switch on the side of the device to mute volume or act as a rotation lock.

By default, the switch acts as a mute button. However, in the General section under Settings, users can toggle the functionality.

Mute or Rotation Switch On-Screen View

iOS 4.2 introduced the ability to double-tap the home button and swipe right to access a panel to easily control brightness or audio or video playback. The panel will now show either a mute button or a rotation lock, depending on your settings.

For instance, if you choose to designate the side switch as a rotation lock, the on-screen button will act as a mute switch.

Enabling Home Sharing

One of our favorite features in iOS 4.3 is support for iTunes Home Sharing. Home Sharing allows users to browse and playback iTunes content from across a local network.

To use Home Sharing, first make sure that the feature is enabled in iTunes. In iTunes, this means clicking on the Advanced menu and selecting "Turn on Home Sharing." Then just enter in your iTunes username and password.

In iOS 4.3 users will need to enable Home Sharing. Go to Settings and then select the iPod section. Then enter in your iTunes username and password into the box. This will enable your device to access your iTunes library when on the same local network.

Selecting iTunes Library

In the iPod app in iOS 4.3 a new "Library" menu item will appear in the sidebar. Using this selector, users can then choose a local iTunes library to connect to from within the app.

Home Sharing Album Browse

Home Sharing works incredibly well. Playlists, Smart Playlists, Podcasts, Audiobooks and videos are all accessible from the sidebar, just as if you were accessing local content in iOS.

I have a Smart Playlist setup to list every album I buy from Amazon.com. I can access that playlist group and browse each album in an easy to view, concise manner.

Playback takes place over the network and is seamless.

Home Sharing Music Video View

You can easily browse the music videos that you have added to iTunes or purchased via iTunes.

Home Sharing Voice Memos

For users that choose to automatically backup their iPhone voice memos to iTunes, those audio files are accessible via the iPod app in iOS. This is great for use on the iPad or for accessing notes that may no longer be local on the iPod.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks downloaded or imported from iTunes are also accessible via iOS 4.3.

Movies

In the Videos app on the iPad or on the Videos tab in iPod for iPhone/iPod touch, users can browse video files in their iTunes library.

For movies purchased from the iTunes store, this means you can playback that connected content on your iOS device over the network.

Chapter marks are accessible and pressing the "next" button in playback will go to the next marker.

Movies

This is really just to highlight Errol Morris's amazing film, The Thin Blue Line.

Music Playback

Playing back music via Home Sharing is the same as playing back local content.

Album art comes in clear and tracks can be scrubbed forward, backward or paused.

Music Playback Track Listing

While listening to music it's easy to switch back to the track view of an album or playlist.

Audio Podcasts

Audio podcasts play back over the network in the iPod app on iPad. Again, cover art is displayed on the screen.

Video Podcasts

Video podcasts can be browsed via the iPod app on the iPad but play back in the Videos application.

SunSpider Results

During the iPad 2 announcement, Steve Jobs pointed out that the JavaScript engine from Safari 5 for Mac OS X was now part of iOS 4.3.

CNET UK ran some benchmark tests on the new iPad 2 and found that indeed, JavaScript performance is much, much faster on the new device.

This performance boost isn't limited to the new iPad 2, the original iPad and the iPhone 4 also get a big boost.

Our iPad running the final release of 4.3 scored a 3306 on the SunSpider benchmark (lower is better in these tests).

That compares with CNET's 2097 on the iPad 2 and an 8321 on their iPad running iOS 4.2.

For comparison, our iOS 4.2.1 iPhone 4 scored a heavy 10214. In iOS 4.3 it racked up a much faster 4141.

HotSpot Support

Verizon customers aren't the only users that can use a mobile hotspot on the iPhone 4. iOS 4.3 brings that ability to users with different wireless carriers too.

The feature is subject to fees and data caps set by wireless providers but users can use the iPhone 4's 3G connection to power 3 other devices via Wi-Fi, one via Bluetooth and a fifth via USB connectivity.

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